What tool was used to design the Windows Media Player GUI?

Question

I work in a field of industrial equipment development and I am fascinated by the quality of graphics used in PC application windows such as the Windows Media Player but when I search the Internet I can't find any tool or even a company that specializes in this kind of design. Most companies I find only specialize in web page design and this is not the same thing. The current user interface was created in VB.net but I'm looking for a better look and feel in both the controls and graphical output displays. A new GUI would have to interface with a .net application. Does anyone know the best tool for developing a unique graphical control and display panel? The equipment that my company manufactures is used in a manufacturing environment where the GUI runs on a PC which drives our product. The GUI design is nearly as important to the end customer as the equipment itself because it's ease of use can help or hinder the equipment operator's productivity.

Answer 1

The UI in WMP could easily be mimicked in VB.NET - it is mainly a matter of having a talented graphics and UI designer who can create the graphic elements for you. Once those have been created, it is easy to create controls in .NET that implement those images.

Companies like http://www.iconfactory.com/ specialize in UI design.